Songlian decided to marry into wealth in "Raise the Red Lantern." She felt that it was worth giving up personal freedoms to live an upper class lifestyle. Songlian was entrapped at her masters estate and was forced to follow family traditions that were handed down through centuries.

She is the fourth mistress to the master. The sisters, or fellow mistresses, constantly competed for his attention. He would only stay at one house a night and that wife's lanterns would be lit in honor. The mistress that was privileged with the masters visit had more power with the estate staff and chose dinner for the entire family.

The need for attention led to violent behavior among the family. Before Songlian joined the family Zhuayun, the second mistress, and Meishan, the third

Krishma is a young boy trying to make it on his own in "Salaam Bombay!" He was dropped off at the circus by his mother for burning his brother's bike. He was to stay there until he could earn enough money to pay his brother back. While Krishma went to town to pick up something for his boss the circus packed up and left. With no other choice available he bought a ticket to Bombay.

People can be in a jail without actually being locked in a cage. Songlian willfully entered a marriage with strict rules and traditions. She spent her life trying to get the attention of her master even if it meant stabbing her fellow sisters in the back. While Krishma's was forced into a life on the streets. He tried to escape, but could not overcome the constant struggles of living on the street. Thebedi was kept on the farm as a slave with little freedom. Even though she had a relationship with Paulus he never admitted it to anyone. In the end he was so ashamed he murdered his own son to cover the evidence. They all were confined in their own way by custom, tradition, prejudice, or poverty. None of them found a way to escape.

No matter how hard Krishma worked his life just became harder. He was fired from his job and was thrown into a home for kids without parents. After he escaped from jail he went to visit the girl he admired, sweet sixteen. When he arrived Mira, a close friend, was trying to escape from Baba. Krishma quickly grabbed a knife and stabbed Baba killing him. Krishma was forced to live on the streets and could not find a way

Some common words found in the essay are:
Country Lovers, Red Lantern, Chillum Baba, , Bombay Bombay, Salaam Bombay, Baba Krishma, paulus brought, baby born, family zhuayun,
Approximate Word count = 1055
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)